The Island Project is an alternative education provision offering services that help young people in difficult situations

The Island Project Farming & Education Centre is a “not for profit” company, providing Alternative Education in Derby and Nottingham

The Island Project provides bespoke pastoral support and alternative education for ages 8-18 including NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and SEMH (Social, Emotional Mental Health). The Project is based on a 3-acre farm located in Draycott, Derby (DE72 3PD). The farm is located in Draycott, Derby, meaning the project can serve placements for Derby City, Derbyshire and Nottingham as well as the wider East Midlands catchment area.

About The Island Project

The project is educationally and socially inclusive, based on a unique 3-acre therapeutic farming site housing donkeys, llamas, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, rabbits, cats, ferrets as well as chickens.

Converted stables and portacabins make up our different learning zones. 2 converted containers are used as a woodwork workshop, a courtyard for sports as well as a large café. This environment at The Island Project has been designed so that the learners can relax in calm and less ridged learning space.

Most learners are at serious risk of underachievement and for most, conventional mainstream education has failed to engage them.  Many students who are unable to cope with a classroom environment find that they thrive in more therapeutic surrounding utilising animal-assisted projects and outside of the classroom-based sessions.